Arlington County’s Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program
(VICAP) provides free, unbiased, one-on-one insurance counseling to Arlington County Medicare Beneficiaries, their families, friends and caregivers.
Medicare Basics
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Virtual
Arlington County's Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) offers free, monthly Medicare classes for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers. Learn about a new topic each month from certified VICAP Counselors and guest speakers from the local, state and federal level.
In July, join Arlington County VICAP's virtual program to learn about:
- Medicare coverage choices (Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D Prescription Drug Coverage, and Medigap Policies)
- What Medicare does and does not cover
- Programs for people with limited income
Registration required. Meeting details will be sent to participants the Friday afternoon before the presentation.
Register in one of three easy ways:
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Medicare Coverage of GLP-1 Medications
Starting July 1, 2026, CMS will provide eligible Medicare beneficiaries with access to certain GLP-1 medications at a $50 monthly cost. Under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, a time-limited demonstration, CMS is expanding access to evidence-based weight-loss treatments. Eligible individuals enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will be able to access these medications.
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge operates under the Secretary’s authority to test new approaches to care delivery under Medicare and is supported by CMS, including centralized processes for claims adjudication and payment to pharmacies. The program runs through December 2027.
Press Release: Coming Soon: CMS to Provide $50 Monthly Access to GLP-1 Medications for Medicare Beneficiaries | CMS
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Open for Public Comment: Simplifying Access to the Medicare Savings Programs
The Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab is seeking comments on new model policies to simplify access to the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs).
MSPs are types of Medicaid coverage that help more than 10 million low-income older adults and people with disabilities pay their out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Parts A and B. The Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab has proposed the following model state policies to simplify access to MSPs:
- Eliminate the asset test
- Flatten the benefit cliff from Medicaid to Medicare
- End the MSP family caregiver penalty
- Simplify eligibility by disregarding the value of non-liquid assets
The Lab is inviting public comments on the policies through July 10. Click here to learn more and provide feedback.
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Scammers Use Financial Grooming, known as 'Pig Butchering,' to Steal Victims' Savings
Virginia SMP | March 23, 2026
Her name, she said, was Jessie. Dennis Jones, 82, met her on Facebook. The divorced, beloved grandfather and father had chatted online with Jessie for months, and he felt close to her, even though they’d never met. On a family vacation, he revealed to his son and daughter that he was exploring a major cryptocurrency investment opportunity. But the investment, and the friendship, were frauds. Jones invested his life savings — and Jessie still pressed him for more money. He was financially ruined. Soon after, a distraught Jones ended his life. Click here to continue reading.
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Dear VICAP Team,
How do I file an appeal with my Medicare Advantage Plan?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
If your Medicare Advantage plan denied coverage for a service or item you already received, you have the right to appeal. You can ask the plan to review its decision, and if it’s still denied, request an independent review.
Here’s a simplified process:
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Start your appeal:
Review the denial notice carefully—it explains why coverage was denied and how to appeal. Submit your appeal within 60 days. You can include:
- A written explanation of why the service was necessary and why the denial is incorrect
- A supporting letter from your doctor
- A request for a deadline extension if you had a valid reason for delay
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If denied again:
The plan will automatically send your case to an Independent Review Entity (IRE). You can submit more information. A decision is typically made within 60 days.
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Next levels of appeal (if needed):
If your appeal is approved at any stage, the service will be covered. click here to learn more on how to file an appeal.
 Interested in joining our team? Click here to complete an online volunteer application or contact the Arlington County VICAP team by phone or email:
703-228-1725
MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0064, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy
Visit our website to learn more.
Use the QR code or click here.
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